Editor’s Note: This article will be published in the August issue of National Right to Life News. It is recommended that this information be shared with pro-life family and friends.
Six months ago, I terminated my employment with a company that I had come to love, where I had formed close relationships with my colleagues, and where I had been engaged in a mission that I had wholeheartedly believed in. In some respects, the decision was not without difficulty. However, the decision was also relatively straightforward.
My four-year tenure as the Education Director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation was an invigorating experience that expanded, tested, and fulfilled my aspiration to be a catalyst for change in our misguided pro-abortion culture. I derived great satisfaction from writing and speaking about pro-life topics. I greatly enjoyed conducting our weekly podcast with esteemed guests. I derived great satisfaction from the opportunity to meet so many dedicated individuals at the various chapter events. Furthermore, I derived great pleasure from engaging in debates that would arise on social media when abortion supporters proffered their illogical comments.
It is therefore difficult to comprehend why I would choose to leave a role that I found so meaningful, one that afforded me the opportunity to have a positive impact on the culture of life.
A novel position had emerged.
The hours of work were not consistent. The remuneration was non-existent. However, the clientele was unparalleled. It was, without a doubt, the most advantageous pro-life position I could have hoped to secure.
I departed in order to assume the role of a full-time grandmother.
It should be noted that my daughter and son-in-law had recently relocated with their four children to our corner of the world. For those who are grandparents, the significance of this blessing is well understood.
On each occasion that I proceeded to the office, I experienced a sense of unease. While I was engaged in the composition of blogs, social media posts, and weekly e-newsletters, securely ensconced behind my keyboard, my rapidly developing grandchildren were just 15 minutes away.
It was my intention to be more present in their lives. As a teacher, I was keen to offer my support to those embarking on a homeschooling journey. As a mother, I was keen to be available to provide assistance to my daughter and son-in-law whenever the need arose.
I therefore tendered my resignation. It was challenging to relinquish a vocation that I held in high regard, yet it was relatively straightforward for those individuals who held a greater significance in my life. The most effective pro-life work is that which is conducted within the family unit, in the domestic environment.
This was not the first instance of my yielding to the powerful maternal instinct that resides within me. A considerable period of time ago, I relinquished a teaching position that I held in high regard. I had secured an excellent position at a middle school, where I felt I could make a meaningful contribution.
However, just a few weeks into the pregnancy, I was informed that I was expecting our fourth child. As the pregnancy progressed, I came to recognise that I was called upon to prioritise my own children and to cease my involvement in teaching. The transition to a single income entailed certain compromises, yet our fundamental necessities were met, and our family life flourished. Twenty-four years later, as that child is nearing the completion of her doctoral studies and is engaged in the provision of healthcare services to others, I am convinced that the decision to leave teaching was the optimal choice for our family.
As I was composing this text, our fifth grandchild was born, which is a positive indication of the stability of our family unit. With two weddings on the horizon, we are expanding our family through marriage as well. The advent of a new season of life is an opportunity for growth and adaptation.
There are numerous avenues through which a pro-life culture can be fostered, including education, advocacy, legislation, mentoring, and more. I am immensely grateful to all those who persevere in the pro-life movement, illuminating the shadows.
At this juncture, my primary focus is on my current professional responsibilities. As Mother Teresa observed, “If you wish to effect change on a global scale, it is first necessary to address the needs of your immediate family.” It is, after all, where it all begins.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
